Miles Briggs

11 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payments have been made in each year since the scheme was established.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: Social Security Scotland routinely publish information as part of the quarterly Official Statistics release ‘Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods’. This includes information on the value of payments issued for Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payments eac…

11 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has undertaken in response to reports that fewer disabled people are accessing employment opportunities in Scotland, compared with other parts of the UK.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government routinely publishes official labour market statistics for disabled people and analysis of how their labour market barriers and outcomes are changing over time. We know the disability employment gap - the difference between the employm…

11 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for benefits have been rejected by Social Security Scotland, broken down by the type of benefit that was applied for.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: Social Security Scotland routinely publish official statistics publications on each of the devolved benefits at:https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/publications For benefits where clients can apply to Social Security Scotland, published statistics include in…

11 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to issue an apology to parents and children who experienced forced adoption, and, if so, by what date.

Answer · Clare Haughey: As I have previously said, this issue deserves to be looked at properly. That is why I am very keen to hear from those with lived experience. I have already held several meetings with some of those affected and I hope to learn more through further engagement …

11 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many objections it has received in response to proposals for a National Care Service.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government’s consultation on a National Care Service closed on 2 November, and received around 1,300 written responses. There was also significant digital and face to face engagement with members of the public throughout the consultation period. …

11 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding the development of an Edinburgh-specific rate of pay, to help address the reported high cost of living in the city.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has not been involved in any discussions regarding the development of an Edinburgh specific rate of pay. Employment law remains reserved to the UK Government therefore, the Scottish Government cannot currently legislate on this matter…

11 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what additional resources it will provide to Edinburgh City Council to address the reported social care issues in the city.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Additional funding of £10.881 million has been provided to Edinburgh City Council for the remainder of the financial year 2021-22. These additional funds are to support: the standing up of interim care arrangements (£3.567 million); enhancing multi-disciplina…

11 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many young people have been removed from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) waiting lists under the Choice and Partnership Approach (CAPA) model, broken down by NHS Board.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The information requested is not held centrally. Whilst the Scottish Government supports the use of Choice and Partnership Approach (CAPA), there is no requirement for NHS Boards to use it.

11 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been declared homeless in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government publishes information on “Homelessness assessment decisions” which provides data on the number of homeless applications which are assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness. Information has been collected and is available by …

11 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many women have self-referred to the breast cancer screening programme, in each year since 1999.

Answer · Maree Todd: Information on the numbers of women over the screening age who have self-referred into the breast screening programme can be found in the tables below. Please note that in 2003, the age range for routine invitation to the breast screening programme was amend…

9 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to increase the proportion of the flood component of the General Capital Grant that is allocated to the City of Edinburgh Council for the purpose of undertaking flood risk management actions, and whether it will confirm if the flood component of the General Capit…

Answer · Mairi McAllan: We currently provide £42 million annually to local authorities through the flood component of the general capital grant. We are committed to providing an extra £150 million to the flood component over the next five years. This is a 70% increase to the floodin…

3 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported figures suggesting that the cumulative excess summer mortality per 100,000 people was higher in 2021 than in each of the preceding 40 years.

Answer · Maree Todd: Covid-19 was the highest single cause of excess mortality during summer 2021. Every one of these deaths is a tragedy. All those affected by the virus have our sympathy and we are working to prevent others from experiencing that same heartbreak. As a result o…

26 Oct 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it plans to provide to first-time buyers.

19 Oct 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when work will commence to address congestion at the Sheriffhall roundabout.

7 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many homeless people in each NHS board area have received a GP appointment in each year since 1999.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Information on the number of homeless people who have received a GP appointment is not held centrally by the Scottish Government as GP practices are responsible for their own patient appointment and consultation arrangements.

7 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many cost overruns there have been on each NHS project in each year since 1999.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government and would require to be obtained directly from Health Boards.

7 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to develop a national standard for electric vehicle charging points in housing developments.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government is currently consulting on draft policy options for the installation of electric vehicle charge points in a number of different building types, including an option that sets out a minimum requirement for all new residential buildings w…

7 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what consideration it is giving to reinstating passengers to the Edinburgh South Suburban railway line.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The reopening of the Edinburgh South Suburban rail line for passengers is being considered within the second Strategic Transport Projects Review.

7 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be (a) for consumers and (b) on fuel poverty in (i) off-grid areas and (ii) the rest of country of its decision to phase out the installation of new or replacement energy efficient oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) heating systems.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: In our Heat in Buildings Strategy, the Scottish Government has committed to phasing out the need to install new or replacement fossil fuel boilers (in off-gas grid areas from 2025, and in on-gas areas from 2030) subject to technological developments and decis…

7 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to promote debt (a) advice and (b) management services across public services.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government will shortly commence a national marketing campaign to increase awareness of the support available to people and their families, including financial support, and encourage them to take it up. This campaign will ensure that information …

7 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with local authorities regarding the levels of council tax debt that has built up during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government meets with COSLA and local authorities on a regular basis to cover a range of issues, including current and future budget pressures. Negotiations on the annual local government finance settlement are conducted between the Scottish Gove…

7 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce speed awareness courses for motorists as an alternative to driving licence penalty points and, if so, by what date.

Answer · Dorothy Bain: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) are currently engaged with criminal justice partners, including the Police Service of Scotland, Transport Scotland and the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service to develop relevant infrastructure and guida…

7 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many young people have been taken off waiting lists for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) services without receiving treatment from CAMHS in each NHS board in each year since 1999.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: This data is not centrally available; aggregated data for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) Waiting Times is sent to PHS from each NHS Board. It does not contain explicit information on the number of young people removed from the waiting list…

7 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many cases of female genital mutilation have been (a) reported and (b) investigated in the last 12 months.

Answer · Keith Brown: There were no crimes of female genital mutilation recorded by Police Scotland in 2020-21.

7 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the cyberattack on SEPA had on the processing of planning applications.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: After suffering a substantial cyberattack in December 2020, SEPA enacted business continuity arrangements and implemented procedures to ensure priority planning and business critical cases were responded to. SEPA worked with planning authorities and other co…

7 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to continue its Help to Buy and Low-cost Initiative for First Time Buyers (LIFT) schemes.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Help to Buy (Scotland) Smaller Developers scheme continues to be available to help people purchase a new build home throughout 2021/22. The scheme will close on 31 March 2022. The Low-cost Initiative for First Time Buyers, which includes the Open Market …

7 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many cases of human trafficking have been (a) reported and (b) investigated in the last 12 months.

Answer · Ash Regan: Should an incident reported to Police Scotland involve criminality then this will be recorded and investigated by Police Scotland, and therefore be included in the Recorded Crime in Scotland National Statistics published by the Scottish Government. The record…

7 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it has provided to each local authority in each of the last five years to tackle rough sleeping.

Answer · Shona Robison: Local authorities are responsible for a range of public services, including housing, and the vast majority of funding for these services is provided to local authorities by means of a block grant from the Scottish Government. It is the responsibility of indiv…

7 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding or support it has provided to help expand the provision of allotments in Scotland in each of the last five years.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government provides various grant funding each year to support and expand allotments and community growing groups in Scotland. Scottish Government community funds, including Climate Challenge Fund, Climate Challenge Asset Fund and Investing in C…

7 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what investigation it will undertake into any human rights abuses in Scotland during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · John Swinney: Since the early stages of our pandemic response, the Scottish Government has been committed to a public inquiry into the handling of the pandemic in Scotland, with the purpose of scrutinising decisions taken in the course of this pandemic so far and to ensure…